OH yeah, one other thing, when you did Blast Mode - did you have the loco on the MAIN or on the PROGRAM track? It has to be on the MAIN to get the fulle effect of Blast Mode - that being full system power being applied to programming. Blast Mode essentially makes the Zephyr into a DB150, and sends program commands out the main track power at full power witht he only limiot being the system capacity. That's why they caution you to remove all other locos from the track when doign it. It's not likely the circuitry is designed such that it actually puts more power ont he program track terminals when Blast Mode is enabled. I've had my Zephyr apart to look at the circuit board, not too much there to mess with, the outputs come from two different driver circuits, the main from a fairly hefty chip and the program track from one small transistor it appears. So it's the main you need when doing blast. It happens to ALSO send the command to the program track, but still at the saem old reduced current levels used when Blast Mode is turned off.
The last thing I had left ot try was QSI, since I didn;t currently own any locos with QSI decoders. Well, I do now, an Atlas GOld Trainmaster, and I was able to set the address on the Zephyr's regualr program trakc, no Blast Mode, no booster - so that makes most every major sound ans motor decoder I've been able to program - haven't tried Lenz but I have no reason to spend that much money for a motor only decoder. Granted, I am using a DT400 or DT402 to do the programming, so there certainly is some difference there when it comes time for the automatic setting of CV29 to match the choice of 2 or 4 digit addressing. The DT400 probably has a longer delay between sendign each CV when setting a 4 digit address, plus at the AD4=ON? prompt I usually hit Y a couple of times before exiting, to make sure it really did set CV29.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I had the same issues with my new digitrax DCS51 programming the Bachmann Spectrum 2-6-6-2 unit. found that if I put the DCS51 into blast mode and then go into DIR programming mode and just keep hitting the CV-WR key I was able to get the new Decoder address from 3 to my new number.
Was able to change other CV values with no problems using OPS programming mode afterwards, just could not change the Decoder address from 3 to my new number unless I did the steps above.
I did have the wires right to the rails ( layout ) and the program track----or is it the rip track?
On both my Zephyrs I color coded the rear wire terminals corresponding to the wire colors to the rails and the program track with colored ink pens before I set them up. Getting wires crossed used to be a habit of mine and I now use extreme caution.
My older Zephyr will program all my decoders both 2 & 4 digit without the booster and read them back all except three of my Atlas GP40-2 dual mode ( lenz ) decoders as those stubborn things need a boost, but the new Zephyr would have no part of that.
About a four week wait ( if I'm lucky ) to get it back, till then it's the old Zephyr and me.
I think I was a sucker for the extra 1/2 amp of power and the 28 functions.
Wadda ya mean I'm old ? Just because I remember gasoline at 9 cents a gallon and those big coal burning steamers.
Sanity check - they didn;t change the order on the terminals for which wire goes where, did they? IE, you DID have the program track rails connected to the proper terminals on the back of the Xtra, right?
If so, something is definitely up, my older one has programmed every motor decoder I've thrown at it (ok I've really only ever used Digitrax, NCE, and TCS) and has programmed QSI OEM, QSI REvolution, Loksound 3.5, Soundtraxx LC, and Tsunami decoders all just fine WITHOUT Blast Mode and WITHOUT a booster. In fact when I set up my Tsunami which is in a Stewrat FT-B, I actually had botht eh A and B on the program track at the same time (sicne I wanted the same address), the A unit has a TCS T-1 in it, and I had no problem setting them both at the same time to the same '4-digit' address complete with CV29 getting set automatically.
rrinker Just noticed there is a firmware update for the Zephyr-Xtra just posted on the Digitrax site. It doesn;t say what it fixes, just that it is recommended for all Z-X owners. You'll need a computer interface to install it though, either a PR3 or Locobuffer. I wonder if it fixes the issues with JMRI... --Randy
Just noticed there is a firmware update for the Zephyr-Xtra just posted on the Digitrax site. It doesn;t say what it fixes, just that it is recommended for all Z-X owners. You'll need a computer interface to install it though, either a PR3 or Locobuffer.
I wonder if it fixes the issues with JMRI...
Well whatever it is Digitrax will either be fixing or replacing my Zephyr-Xtra for after the Digitrax Tech guy said ( on the phone ) to enable OpSw 07 and that would program the Tsunami sound decoders, well it still does not work when doing that as it will NOT program any decoder that I have anyway which is Tsunami, Bli sound, older dual mode lenz. QSI and the dreadful MRC decoder. That is it will not program any four digit address ( Ad4 ) but it will program these same decoders using a two digit address ( Ad2 ).
As of right now I'm thinking the older Zephyr is the better of the two.
What does bother me though is I paid good money for a unit that is their ( Digitrax ) fault for the mess up and I still have to pay shipping to them. Oh well everyone else has to do the same thing I guess.
Here I come UPS.
Well now I'm ready for the loony bin as Digitrax called me at 4:30 PM CST ( guess they work till five? ). Digitrax said to set program track to "Blast Mode" for the Tsunami sound decoders and it will work. What? Well nut's I completely forgot about that but then again I thought the "PowerPax" was the equivalent to that and it did not work. Digitrax also said NO way could you program the address ( #1 ) on the main using OPS mode.
Here's the option Switch Table listings and for Blast Mode. It is #07 which I highlighted.
Tomorrows another day and I will again re-install the Zephyr-Xtra ( sigh ).
Randy, you have the older Zephyr don't you? For some reason the old Zephyr must have more kick to it on the program track, but the Xtra you have to set an option switch. Go figure.
rrinker Digitrax does it automatically, but it may have sent the CV29 change too fast for the Tsunami to register it, although I had no problem programming mine and allowing the automatic programmign of CV29. I was using my DT400 throttle and not the Zephyr keypad, so there is a lag in setting CV29 because you are prompted to press Y to confirm switching to the long address. Just set CV29 as mentioned - I'll bet it runs on the desired address. You can change CV1 on the main with Digitrax, what you usually can't do is change the active address. Like if the short address is active you can set 17 and 18 and then 29 to switch to a long address but you can;t program 1 to a new short address. Once the loco is active on a long address you can set CV1 using POM and then reset CV29 to use the short address. Where DOES this stuff come from that only system x can do common things like this? --Randy
Digitrax does it automatically, but it may have sent the CV29 change too fast for the Tsunami to register it, although I had no problem programming mine and allowing the automatic programmign of CV29. I was using my DT400 throttle and not the Zephyr keypad, so there is a lag in setting CV29 because you are prompted to press Y to confirm switching to the long address. Just set CV29 as mentioned - I'll bet it runs on the desired address.
You can change CV1 on the main with Digitrax, what you usually can't do is change the active address. Like if the short address is active you can set 17 and 18 and then 29 to switch to a long address but you can;t program 1 to a new short address. Once the loco is active on a long address you can set CV1 using POM and then reset CV29 to use the short address. Where DOES this stuff come from that only system x can do common things like this?
I changed out the Zephyr-Xtra back to the older Zephyr and Walla all engines including the 2-6-6-2 are all programed ( 2-6-6-2 and 4-6-0 four and three #'s ) to where I want them. I can also read back my CV's on the program track ( Yes Randy I do like to know what my CV's are. ) with the PowerPax or not depending on the decoder.
The older Zephyr had no problems whatsoever in both programing and or reading back so I'm happy with that.
I have called Digitrax and had to leave my phone number for the Tech was busy, also it was pushing 4:00 PM at Panama City, Fla. ( quitting time ) so I'll wait till tomorrow, then e-mail if I have to but this Zephyr-Xtra needs repaired or replaced.
to all of you that have tried to help me and I did try punching the 29's and other #'s as some of you suggested but to no avail on the new Zephyr-Xtra. But I still want the extra 1/2 amp and the other goodies the older Zephyr doesn't have, so I'll wait and see what Digitrax says.
Again thanks.
Go back and set CV 29 to a value of 34. It sounds like your system is changing the address okay but you're not telling the decoder to use the long address by setting CV 29. Some systems require that this be done as a separate programming step, and some do it by stepping through configuration questions.
Yeah Graffen, Hamltnblue didn't read my orig. post about I tried ops mode. Oh well no harm done.
Guys I've spent too much time on the layout today as the 2-6-6-2 is still stuck on #3.
I tried it again on the program track using Page, Loco, Ad4, 1523, CV-WR
Zephyr display flashed three times with Ad4 then read 1523
OK maybe it works? Put loco on the main and turned on the track power, selected # 1523 and nothing.
Tried #3 and the 2-6-6-2 fired up.
Now I'm reaching for the Excedrin.
This Zephyr-Xtra is new for me as I've had it for about one month and programed all my other locos with my older Zephyr. Two engines were 4 digit, so I read them on the program track and both read out four numbers.
Just for kicks I tried to reprogram one of the previous 4 digit engines to a different 4 digit number. Zephyr's display read the 4 digit #. I reprogrammed and I tried it on the main. Guess what? That engine ( Atlas non sound ) would not run until I punched in the old 4 digits.
Tomorrow sometime I'm going to switch back to my old Zephyr and see what happens. Maybe the new Zephyr-Xtra isn't so Xtra after all?
I'll let you all know when I change the Zephyrs out.
Thanks guys, I appreciate all you have told me and I am doing it some of your ways but then again I'm also trying what the manuals tell me.............But hey that ain't working either.
Hamltnblue You can also try programming it on the main.
You can also try programming it on the main.
If you don´t have a Lenz or Roco system........
Then you can´t progrem CV 1 in POM mode.
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DOn't bother trying to read - just used Paged mode and program it - does it take the settings? There's really no reason to read. I recently got my first Tsunami decoder and programmed it AND a second unit with a motor only decoder at the same time on my Zephyr's program track with NO booster.
I guess this isn't an extended/long address problem with CV29 not being changed at the same time to a value of either 34 or 38, with the latter being dual mode operability and the former being for DCC only?
I have had one Tsunami that was a bear to reset, so I used Ops Mode and used the address "00" which will change every decoder on the powered rails...so make sure to isolate them or remove them. But, try acquiring the address to which it now responds, make sure, then dial in 00 on that throttle, enter Ops, and do a reset to CV8. Doesn't hurt to actually do that first. Then, try Ops again to set the address, and if long, make the appropriate change to CV29.
I doubt the decoder is faulty, but I confess I don't know enough about them to say definitively.
Crandell
My command is a new Zephyr-Xtra. My program track is tied to it separately from the layout itself. I also have the "PowerPax" for a booster if necessarily on the program track.
Yesterday I took out a new Bachmann HO 2-6-6-2 mallet from the box and it ran pretty good using the default #3 address, then after a couple laps around the layout I used OPS mode and set up CV 3 & 4. No problem, well now it's time to set a new number instead of 3. Yeah right.
My Zephyr-Xtra will not read this Tsunami factory installed decoder period, even if I give it a boost with the "PowerPax".
Used DIR ( direct ), also Paged on the program track with no avail. All I get is d nA ( No acknowledgement from the Decoder ) -or- d nr ( The DCS51 was not able to read the decoder ).
I removed the 2-6-6-2 and replaced with a Bachmann HO 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler with the tsunami decoder and it read in DIR and Paged with no problem.
I tried other engines with BLI sound, Atlas ( older Lenz decoders w/no sound ), Walthers proto 2000 F7A with OSI decoders and all worked well on the program track.
So I used OPS mode to tone down the loudness of the 2-6-6-2 ( WOW was it loud ).
I even removed all loco's off the layout and tried to program the address that way as Digitrax says it is allowed on the Zephyr but some decoders only allow that to be done on the program track. Yep it didn't work.
Don't know whether to send it to Bachmann ( maybe Soundtraxx? ) or just program on the main and keeping a log on the values and run as #3 ?
Anyone ever have this problem or at least maybe have a fix?
Actuality I think Soundtraxx sold me a lemon.